A 2 ½ hour public hearing concluded Tuesday with the Fremont County Commissioners approving a conditional use permit for a controversial gypsum mine in western Fremont County. The Commissioners voted 2 to 1 to approve the permit for the Holcim Company to reopen the gypsum mine which closed seventeen years ago at Coaldale. Commissioners Ed Norden and Larry Lasha voted to approve the mine while Commissioner Mike Stiehl cast the 'no' vote.
Of the twenty-five people testifying, most of them were opposed to the mining operation arguing that problems with dust, noise, traffic, and blasting would disrupt their peaceful valley. While approving the permit, the Commissioners postponed until their August 28th regular meeting consideration of a list of conditions under which Holcim will be required to operate the gypsum mine. Holcim wants the authority to haul up to ten truckloads of gypsum daily, Monday through Friday, from the mine to their cement plant at Portland east of Florence. Holcim officials said they intend to actually mine and crush gypsum only six months every year and asked for the authority to blast up to ten times per year but with much smaller blasts than when the mine previously was in operation.
The Commissioners Tuesday also approved a two year extension of parking lot paving requirements for the Coyote Coffee Den along Highway 115 in Penrose. Owner Pete Mugasis sought a three year extension but Commissioner Larry Lasha urged him to make the effort to accomplish the paving in two years. The board had already previously allowed a two year extension.
The Commissioners adopted a resolution amending the schedule of fees in the Planning and Zoning Department in four categories. The amended fee schedule calls for a penalty fee of $150 for conditional use permits and special review use permits if permit holders are delinquent in filing their annual reports. Kennel license annual inspection fees are increased from $100 to $200. Persons and companies operating illegally without a required conditional use permit or special review use permit will pay a penalty of double the application fee in order to come into compliance. Thus someone operating illegally without a special review use permit would have to pay double the standard $1,800 application fee.
Of the twenty-five people testifying, most of them were opposed to the mining operation arguing that problems with dust, noise, traffic, and blasting would disrupt their peaceful valley. While approving the permit, the Commissioners postponed until their August 28th regular meeting consideration of a list of conditions under which Holcim will be required to operate the gypsum mine. Holcim wants the authority to haul up to ten truckloads of gypsum daily, Monday through Friday, from the mine to their cement plant at Portland east of Florence. Holcim officials said they intend to actually mine and crush gypsum only six months every year and asked for the authority to blast up to ten times per year but with much smaller blasts than when the mine previously was in operation.
The Commissioners Tuesday also approved a two year extension of parking lot paving requirements for the Coyote Coffee Den along Highway 115 in Penrose. Owner Pete Mugasis sought a three year extension but Commissioner Larry Lasha urged him to make the effort to accomplish the paving in two years. The board had already previously allowed a two year extension.
The Commissioners adopted a resolution amending the schedule of fees in the Planning and Zoning Department in four categories. The amended fee schedule calls for a penalty fee of $150 for conditional use permits and special review use permits if permit holders are delinquent in filing their annual reports. Kennel license annual inspection fees are increased from $100 to $200. Persons and companies operating illegally without a required conditional use permit or special review use permit will pay a penalty of double the application fee in order to come into compliance. Thus someone operating illegally without a special review use permit would have to pay double the standard $1,800 application fee.
In other business the Commissioners:
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approved a six month extension of contingencies for the Brill lot line adjustment on 13th Street in the Beaver Park area at Penrose;
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received a quarterly report from Public Trustee Pat McFarland who said foreclosure rates remain high with her office initiating the 200th foreclosure action of 2007 this week;
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and scheduled two public hearings for September 11th. One is for a zone change for property at Elm Avenue Greenhouses in Lincoln Park while the other is for receiving public comment on the designation of Fremont County flood hazard areas as required by the federal government.